Game of Thrones Prequel Reportedly Begins Production in October [Updated]

The prequel to popular HBO series Game of Thrones will begin filming this October in Belfast. After spending months developing multiple spinoff shows, the network finally ordered a Game of Thrones prequel series last month. And it looks like it won't be long before fans get to see the series on-screen.

Game of Thrones has been a hugely successful series for HBO ever since it premiered in 2011. The show has received numerous awards and nominations from Emmys to the Golden Globes over the years, in addition to maintaining a devoted fan base. When the last season ended, devotees were left speculating what would become of the seven kingdoms. The eighth and final season of the series is set to premiere sometime in 2019, with no official release date announced. Season 8 will only have six episodes, which finally wrapped production earlier this week. And now, it seems like HBO is gearing up to start filming their spinoff series.

According to Belfast Telegraph, production on the Game of Thrones prequel will begin this October in Belfast. Staff at the Paint Hall studios in Belfast's Titanic Quarter were briefed that their next project will be the prequel to the popular HBO show, which will be set 1,000 years before the events that take place in the popular series. The news extends beyond excitement for fans, as the opportunity to film in Belfast will secure hundreds of jobs in the TV and film industry for the next few years. "This is fantastic news for everyone at the studio - from the cast and the crew, right down to the riggers and the catering staff," said Paint Hall source.

While a title for the new show hasn't been announced, George R.R. Martin did say he would like it to be called The Long Night. However, he thinks HBO would still want to have Game of Thrones as part of the main title. The original series has been filmed in Northern Ireland since 2010, bringing in millions of pounds to the local economy. The Paint Hall has worked as the show's main studio, but other locations that were featured heavily on the show included the Dark Hedges near Ballycastle, Ballintoy Harbour on the north Antrim coast, Shillanavogy Valley, and more. As expected, the filming locations have become tourist hotspots, with devotees of Game of Thrones flocking to see the sites in record numbers from across the globe.

With fans speculating about the final season of Game of Thrones, very little is known about the prequel. Beyond a guaranteed new cast and a basic timeline, fans are essentially in the dark as to what could be in store with the prequel series. Now that the show will officially begin shooting in October, fans may begin to hear more news over the next few months about recent developments and casting notices. Game of Thrones has been a notoriously secretive show. Fans have been pondering the slightest details as to what could be the end of the beloved, record-breaking series. But with the prequel in development, there is much to look forward to as fans await a return to the seven kingdoms.